Versatile shooting rest

ABSTRACT

A portable weapon support includes a lower member with a support base and an upstanding post, and an upper member attachable on the upstanding post of the lower member. The upper member includes a weapon rest shaped to support a shooting end of a weapon. The weapon support can stand on a flat surface or can be supported on a tree stand gun rail or the like. The weapon support improves accuracy for sport shooting and hunting activities.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/897,057, filed Oct. 29, 2013, the entire content of which is herein incorporated by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

(Not Applicable)

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to a portable weapon support and, more particularly, to a portable weapon support that improves sport shooting and hunting activities with firearms and crossbows.

Hunters and shooters traditionally shoot firearms and crossbows with improper posture due to incorrect firearm or crossbow elevation. This is most prominent while utilizing tree stands that contain a shooting rail. Shooting rails in many cases are built too low for the person. This requires the shooter to hunch or scoot down while aiming. In many cases, this results in an inaccurate or sloppy shot.

One problem with using traditional pods, bipeds, or tripods on a tree stand is that the legs of these devices will slide off or bump against the shooting rail making a loud noise that scares away wildlife. It would be desirable to provide hunters and shooters a quiet way to keep the pod steady on the shooting rail while providing the needed elevation for accuracy. Additionally, to accommodate the movement of the firearm or crossbow into different positions while hunting with a shooting rail, the gun rest should be able to swivel left or right.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention obviates the shortcomings noted above with a customizable height adjustment to match the height of the shooter. The assembly is quiet in use, and the assembly provides the needed swivel action that allows angled shots at different positions.

The weapon support according to preferred embodiments is suitable for use on a flat surface and is cooperable with a tree stand gun rail to provide elevation and support to a firearm, crossbow or the like. The weapon support provides a more comfortable shooting position resulting in a more accurate shot during hunting or target practice. The bottom of the support may be flanged and extended so it does not slide off the shooting rails. Preferably, parts of the weapon support are padded so that the support does not cling against the rail and also protects the weapon finish. An upper assembly swivels left and right against a lower assembly for different angle positioning.

In an exemplary embodiment, a portable weapon support includes a lower member with a support base and an upstanding post, and an upper member attachable on the upstanding post of the lower member. The upper member includes a weapon rest shaped to support a shooting end of a weapon.

The support base may include a main panel and flanges on either side of the main panel that extend downward relative to the upstanding post. The support base of the lower member may be provided with a pad. The pad may be disposed in a space defined by the main panel and the flanges.

The support base may be omega-shaped including an inverse U-shaped area and outwardly extending feet.

In one embodiment, the upstanding post may be threaded, and the upper member may be correspondingly threaded to attach to the upstanding member.

The upper member may be height adjustable relative to the lower member. In one configuration, the upper member may be height adjustable relative to the lower member from a minimum height of 7″ to a maximum height of 11″.

The weapon rest may be V-shaped, and the upper member may also include a pad disposed on the weapon rest.

The upper member may be configured to swivel relative to the lower member.

The upper member may also include a quick detach fastener coupleable with the weapon.

The upper member may also include a hand grip securable on the upstanding post of the lower member.

In another exemplary embodiment, a portable weapon support includes a support base standable on a gun rail and on a flat surface; a post coupled with the support base; and a weapon rest secured on the post, where the weapon rest is height adjustable relative to the support base, and wherein the support base and the weapon rest are padded.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, a portable weapon support includes a support base standable on a gun rail and on a flat surface, and a post coupled with the support base. The post has exterior threads. A hand grip having internal threads is threaded over the post. A weapon rest is integral with the hand grip. The weapon rest is height adjustable relative to the support base by rotating the hand grip relative to the post, and the support base and the weapon rest are padded. A quick detach fastener coupleable with the weapon includes an elastic strap secured to one side of the weapon rest and a fastener peg secured to an opposite side of the weapon rest.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects and advantages will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is An exploded perspective view of the portable weapon support; and

FIG. 2 is a close-up end view of the support base.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a portable weapon support 10 according to preferred embodiments. The weapon support 10 includes a lower assembly 12 and an upper assembly 14. The lower assembly includes a support base 16 and an upstanding post 18. In a preferred construction, the support base 16 and upstanding post 18 are integral. The post 18 preferably includes external threads 20.

The support base 16 may include a main panel 22 and downwardly extending flanges 24 on either side of the main panel 22. The flanges 24 act as a rim to keep the weapon support from sliding off the gun rail. With reference to FIG. 2, the flanges 24 may also include outwardly extending feet 26 such that a cross-section of the support base 16 may be substantially omega-shaped (a). With this construction, the support base 16 can set on a flat surface for support by the feet 26 or alternatively, the inverse U-shaped area of the omega shape may be sized to fit over a tree-stand gun rail. In this context, the inverse U-shaped area may be padded 28 for quiet positioning of the weapon support on a gun rail. The bottoms of the flanges 24 (and outwardly extending feet 26) are suitably thick and strong so that they can hold the weight of the weapon without wobbling or breaking in use.

The upper member 14 includes a hand grip 30 that is attachable on the upstanding post 18 of the lower member 12. The hand grip 30 is generally tubular and includes internal threads engageable with the threads 20 on the upstanding post 18. A weapon rest 32 is coupled with the hand grip 30 and is shaped to support a shooting end of a weapon. Preferably, the weapon rest 32 is integral with the hand grip 30. The hand grip 30 may include a coating or cover for user comfort or for appearance.

As shown, in a preferred construction, the weapon rest 32 is generally V-shaped and with the hand grip 30, preferably defines a Y-shape.

The upper member 14 may be height adjustable relative to the lower member 12. In a preferred construction, a height of the weapon rest 32 relative to the support base 16 can be adjusted by rotating the upper member 14 relative to the lower member 12 on the threads 20 of the upstanding post 18. In an exemplary embodiment, the upper member 14 is height adjustable relative to the lower member 12 from a minimum height of 7″ to a maximum height of 11″. Of course, a greater or smaller range can be achieved by adjusting a height of the upstanding post 18 and/or a length of the hand grip 30.

The upper member 14 is also easily swiveled relative to the lower member 12. This free rotation allows the weapon to rotate left or right while being supported on the weapon rest 32. A bottom portion of the upper member 14 may include a tension pad/ring in it to provide a smooth yet controlled operation when rotating the upper member 14 over the lower member 12.

Rubber padding 34 inside the V-shaped weapon rest 32 provides a scratch proof quiet hold for the weapon. The upper member 14 also includes a quick detach fastener having an elastic strap 36 secured to one side of the weapon rest 32 and a fastener peg 38 secured to an opposite side of the weapon rest 32. With a weapon supported in the weapon rest 32, the strap 36 can be extended over the weapon into engagement with the fastener peg 38 to secure the weapon support and weapon together.

The weapon support of the preferred embodiments provides elevation to a weapon for a more comfortable shooting position, resulting in a more accurate shot. The assembly is easily adjustable and is compact to be portable and fit into a pocket or the like. The weapon support also can be readily swiveled while maintaining a stable support base and quiet operation.

While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

1. A portable weapon support comprising: a lower member including a support base and an upstanding post; and an upper member attachable on the upstanding post of the lower member, the upper member including a weapon rest shaped to support a shooting end of a weapon.
 2. A portable weapon support according to claim 1, wherein the support base includes a main panel and flanges on either side of the main panel that extend downward relative to the upstanding post.
 3. A portable weapon support according to claim 2, wherein the support base of the lower member comprises a pad.
 4. A portable weapon support according to claim 3, wherein the pad is disposed in a space defined by the main panel and the flanges.
 5. A portable weapon support according to claim 1, wherein the support base is omega-shaped including an inverse U-shaped area and outwardly extending feet.
 6. A portable weapon support according to claim 1, wherein the upstanding post is threaded, and wherein the upper member is correspondingly threaded to attach to the upstanding member.
 7. A portable weapon support according to claim 1, wherein the upper member is height adjustable relative to the lower member.
 8. A portable weapon support according to claim 7, wherein the upper member is height adjustable relative to the lower member from a minimum height of 7″ to a maximum height of 11″.
 9. A portable weapon support according to claim 1, wherein the weapon rest is V-shaped.
 10. A portable weapon support according to claim 9, wherein the upper member further comprises a pad disposed on the weapon rest.
 11. A portable weapon support according to claim 1, wherein the upper member swivels relative to the lower member.
 12. A portable weapon support according to claim 1, wherein the upper member comprises a quick detach fastener coupleable with the weapon.
 13. A portable weapon support according to claim 1, wherein the upper member comprises a hand grip securable on the upstanding post of the lower member.
 14. A portable weapon support comprising: a support base standable on a gun rail and on a flat surface; a post coupled with the support base; and a weapon rest secured on the post, wherein the weapon rest is height adjustable relative to the support base, and wherein the support base and the weapon rest are padded.
 15. A portable weapon support according to claim 14, wherein the post comprises a hand grip.
 16. A portable weapon support according to claim 14, wherein the support base is omega-shaped including an inverse U-shaped area and outwardly extending feet.
 17. A portable weapon support according to claim 16, wherein the inverse U-shaped area is sized to fit over the gun rail, and wherein the support base is padded inside the U-shaped area.
 18. A portable weapon support comprising: a support base standable on a gun rail and on a flat surface; a post coupled with the support base, the post having exterior threads; a hand grip having internal threads threaded over the post; a weapon rest integral with the hand grip, wherein the weapon rest is height adjustable relative to the support base by rotating the hand grip relative to the post, and wherein the support base and the weapon rest are padded; and a quick detach fastener coupleable with the weapon, the quick detach fastener including an elastic strap secured to one side of the weapon rest and a fastener peg secured to an opposite side of the weapon rest.
 19. A portable weapon support according to claim 18, wherein the weapon rest is V-shaped. 